Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: Fasting for at least 12 hours is required. You should stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours before your collection, and this test should be drawn before a Schilling test, transfusions, or B12 therapy begins.
- Turnaround: 3-5 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
What's Included
Iron Studies
- Iron, Total: Measures the amount of iron circulating in your blood.
- Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): Shows how well your blood is able to carry iron.
- UIBC: Measures the portion of your iron-binding capacity not currently occupied by iron.
- Iron Saturation: Reflects the percentage of your iron-carrying protein that is saturated with iron.
- Transferrin: Measures transferrin, the protein that transports iron through your blood.
- Ferritin: Measures ferritin, the protein that stores iron in your body.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- White Blood Cells (WBC): Your body's primary defense against infection and disease.
- Red Blood Cells (RBC): Carry oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from your cells.
- Hemoglobin: The protein in red cells that carries oxygen through your bloodstream.
- Hematocrit: The percentage of your blood volume made up of red blood cells.
- Neutrophils: The most common white blood cells, created to fight infection and inflammation.
- Lymphocytes: Immune cells that help fight bacteria and other pathogens.
- Monocytes: Cells that help fight infection and clear away damaged cells.
- Eosinophils (Eos): White blood cells activated in response to allergies and certain infections.
- Basophils: Cells involved in early infection detection, wound healing, and allergic response.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): The average amount of hemoglobin within a red blood cell.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): The average hemoglobin concentration percentage within a red blood cell.
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): The average size of your red blood cells.
- Platelet Count: Blood cell particles involved in forming clots.
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW): Measures variation in the volume and size of your red blood cells.
- Absolute Eosinophils (Eos, Absolute): The calculated number of eosinophils in your blood.
- Absolute Basophils (Baso, Absolute): The calculated number of basophils in your blood.
- Absolute Lymphocytes (Lymphs, Absolute): The calculated number of lymphocytes in your blood.
- Absolute Monocytes (Monocytes, Absolute): The calculated number of monocytes in your blood.
- Immature Granulocytes: Measures early-stage white blood cells present in your sample.
- Immature Granulocytes (Absolute): The calculated number of immature granulocytes in your blood.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14)
- Glucose: Measures your blood sugar level.
Kidney Profile
- BUN (Urea Nitrogen): An indicator of kidney function.
- Creatinine, Serum: An indicator of kidney function.
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio: Calculated by dividing BUN by creatinine to help evaluate kidney function.
- eGFR: An estimate of how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood.
- Uric Acid: A waste product used alongside other markers to evaluate kidney function.
Liver Panel
- Protein, Total: Helps assess liver and kidney function and nutritional health.
- Albumin, Serum: A major protein essential to healthy liver and kidney function.
- Globulin, Total: A major protein that supports clotting and includes infection-fighting antibodies.
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio: Calculated by dividing albumin by globulin to help assess liver function.
- Bilirubin, Total: Aids in evaluating liver function; high levels may cause jaundice.
- Alkaline Phosphatase: Helps detect bone disorders and liver disease.
- AST (SGOT): An enzyme used to evaluate liver function.
- ALT (SGPT): An enzyme used to identify liver damage.
Fluids & Electrolytes
- Sodium: A major body fluid salt important for water balance and nerve and muscle activity.
- Potassium: Helps control nerve and muscle function.
- Chloride: Helps maintain your body's electrolyte balance.
- Carbon Dioxide, Total: Used to help evaluate and monitor electrolyte balance.
- Calcium: Supports healthy bones, teeth, muscle, nerve, and blood clotting function.
Vitamins
- Vitamin B12: Measures the amount of vitamin B12 in your blood, a nutrient essential for making red blood cells.
- Folate (Folic Acid): Measures the amount of folate in your blood, a nutrient important for red blood cell production and cell growth.
Hemoglobin Solubility
- Hemoglobin (Hgb) Solubility: Checks how well hemoglobin dissolves in a special solution, which can help identify abnormal hemoglobin.
Benefits
- Checks iron, B12, and folate levels linked to red blood cell health.
- Evaluates red blood cell counts alongside kidney, liver, and electrolyte markers.
- Offers a broad view of factors that support healthy red blood cell production.
- Provides results you can review and discuss with your healthcare provider.
- Supports ongoing monitoring for those already being treated for anemia.
Who Is This Test For?
- Adults interested in learning more about their red blood cell health.
- Individuals wanting to check their iron, B12, and folate status.
- Anyone whose healthcare provider has recommended a broad anemia-related panel.
- People wanting a general health check that includes kidney and liver markers.
- Individuals monitoring their status while receiving anemia-related treatment.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this test?
This panel brings together iron studies, a Complete Blood Count (CBC), a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14), vitamin B12, folate, and hemoglobin solubility testing. Together, these tests look at your iron levels, red blood cell counts, and overall organ and electrolyte health, all of which play a role in healthy red blood cell production. Reviewing these results together can help paint a fuller picture of factors that may relate to anemia, though this panel alone does not diagnose any condition.
2. Who would benefit from this test?
This panel may be useful for adults who want a broad look at their iron, vitamin, and red blood cell-related markers. It may also interest people who are curious about their overall metabolic health alongside these blood cell measures, or who are monitoring their status as part of ongoing care with a healthcare provider.
3. When should I order this panel?
You might consider this panel as part of general screening, to get a baseline picture of your iron, vitamin, and blood cell markers, or to monitor these levels over time. Your healthcare provider can help you decide whether this panel fits your particular situation.
4. Do I need to fast before this test?
Yes. Fasting for at least 12 hours is required. You should stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours before your collection, and this test should be drawn before a Schilling test, transfusions, or B12 therapy begins.
5. How quickly will I get results?
Results are typically available in 3-5 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
6. How do I interpret the results?
Rather than looking at any single value in isolation, it's often more meaningful to look at how your iron, vitamin, red blood cell, and metabolic markers relate to one another. Patterns across these biomarkers can offer more context than one result alone. Be sure to discuss your full results with your healthcare provider, who can help you understand what they mean for you.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
7. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
If any of your results fall outside the expected range, share them with your healthcare provider. They can help you understand what the results mean in the context of your health and determine if any next steps or additional testing are needed.
8. How often should I get tested?
How often you should repeat this panel depends on your individual health history and goals. Testing frequency is best determined as directed by your healthcare provider, based on your specific circumstances.
9. Why early detection matters
Keeping track of markers like iron, vitamin B12, folate, and red blood cell counts over time may help support earlier awareness of changes in these levels. Understanding these patterns can help guide conversations with your healthcare provider about your ongoing health and wellbeing.
Pre-test preparation
Fasting for at least 12 hours is required. Patients should stop taking biotin at least 72 hours before collection. Must draw before Schilling test, transfusions, or B12 therapy is started.
